With Ian Curtin and Louise Amuir

September 20 - 25, 2026

This is The Haven’s most sought-after core program, offering an ideal starting point — or a powerful next step — for anyone engaged in personal or professional growth and transformation.

Participants join from many different walks of life, bringing a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, lifestyles, and locations. For many, the experience becomes deeply meaningful and unexpectedly profound.

Set on 7 acres of forested land by the sea, the centre is located on Gabriola Island in a peaceful yet lively natural setting. This land and shoreline are the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, a community of Coast Salish Peoples. The oceanfront environment creates space to explore both inner life and relationships with others, while offering the chance to reflect, reconnect, and discover more of your potential.

The program’s strength lies in its unique history, respected communication and relationship models, community energy, and beautiful coastal location. With guidance and support, you will learn and practice The Haven’s models of communication, relationship, and self-responsibility through a variety of personal learning experiences. Activities, conversations, and group experiences take place in both large and small groups.

Come Alive is for me if…

I want to deepen my self-awareness and move beyond self-imposed limits
I'm ready to develop greater self-compassion and self-acceptance
I want to experience the freedom of being my whole and authentic self – mind, body, and spirit
I'm open to learning and practicing a transformative model for communication
I want valuable insights to strengthen my health and well-being
I want to break through self-limiting patterns and live the life I want
I'm curious about myself and my place in relationships, community, and the world
I want to rediscover joy and meaning in life
I want more harmonious, loving and fulfilling relationships; I want to know what intimacy really is
I am looking to improve my professional skills; to be more authentic as a leader, bolster my 'soft' skills, and develop better relationships with my co-workers.
I want to shake things up and try something different…

"For the first time, I felt comfortable in my own skin…"

Program highlights:

5 days in a serene oceanfront setting on Gabriola Island to focus on yourself.
Opportunity to learn from, relate to, and deeply connect with others.
A unique East meets West approach developed by a psychiatrist (Ben Wong) and a medical doctor and acupuncturist (Jock McKeen ).
Experiential learning through diverse methods: bodywork, breath, visualization meditation, movement, and cognitive skill development.
A powerful approach to developing self-compassion and deeper self-awareness.
40 years of continued success with thousands of participants from around the world.
Select expert program leaders, highly trained at The Haven and in their own professions.
Exceptional support and a high ratio of team members to participants.
Opportunities to further heal and explore the mind-body-spirit connection with onsite bodyworkers.
A full schedule with daily breaks for reflection, connection, rest, relaxing in the oceanfront hot tub, exploring nearby trails, and more.
Support to integrate your learning beyond The Haven through one-on-one coaching, online video meetings, and various local groups.
A $1000 discount off Living Alive after you have completed Come Alive

Investment:

Earlybird tuition is CAD $1490 and is available up to one month before the program begins. Regular tuition is CAD $1590. Full payment is due one month prior to the start date, regardless of the tuition price.

Don’t let program fees hold you back — the Haven Scholarship Fund may be able to help. Scholarships are limited, and applications must be received 6 weeks in advance.

Schedule:

Your program begins with dinner at 5:45pm and your first session at 7:00pm.

Daily schedule:

Breakfast 8:00 – 8:45am
Morning session 9:00am to 11:45am
Lunch noon to 1:00pm
Afternoon session 2:45-5:45pm
Dinner 5:45 – 6:30pm
Evening session 7:00 – 9:30pm

Afternoon and evening sessions may vary. The program concludes with lunch on the final day.

Transportation:

If you are arriving on Gabriola as a foot passenger on the Gabriola Ferry, a shuttle to The Haven can be requested. Details will be included in your pre-arrival email.

Recommended Resources:

These book titles can complement and deepen your learning in the program. They may be purchased on site, or you can arrange to order them in advance:

Being: A Manual for Life by Bennet Wong & Jock McKeen

Admission requirements: The student must have the desire and ability to learn. Must demonstrate a capacity for responsible self care, responsible self organization and sound mental health. The student must understand and speak English.

This program does not require approval by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. As such, the registrar did not review this program.

Leaders

Ian Curtin

Ian Curtin BComm, DipC, specializes in facilitating dialogue within and between organizations, supporting relational leadership and teamwork, and advancing the art of living change. He believes communication habits are the foundation of family relationships, work teams, and organizations. He has been connected with The Haven for 28 years, leading Come Alive and Couples in Conflict, and is a founding member of The Inner Activist, which creates learning spaces that nurture compassionate, reflective, and responsive leadership grounded in social justice, diversity, and difference.

Louise Amuir

Louise Amuir (she/they), with diplomas in Haven Counselling and Group Leadership, is drawn to creativity and expressive arts as ways of connecting with self and others. Louise is committed to diversity, inclusion, equity, reconciliation, and collaborative processes. Their background in theatre, writing, art, dance, music, work with street youth and youth in receiving and treatment homes, parenting, relationships, and meditation brings humour, mindfulness, curiosity, and play to their work. As Haven faculty, Louise leads or co-leads Befriending your Inner Critic, Living the Questions, Inner Wisdom for Women, Awareness through Creative Expression, Journey to Self, and Haven New Year visioning.

Book now and get CAD $100.00 off regular price. Remaining balance due on or before Aug 22, 2026 to qualify for CAD $100.00 off regular price. This offer valid until Aug 22, 2026. Package prices include room, regular tuition, and meals.

Dorm bed (upper) - Participant – CAD $2,240.00

Dorm bed (lower) - Participant – CAD $2,240.00

Basic Room - Shared - Participant – CAD $2,352.50

Basic Room - Private - Participant – CAD $2,715.00

Forestview - Shared - Participant – CAD $2,477.50

Forestview - Private - Participant – CAD $2,965.00

Staying off-premise - Participant – CAD $1,990.00

Events in Gabriola